Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 738,070. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.-

J. H. ROSS.

AGETYLBNB GAS GENERATOR.

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PATBNTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

J. H. ROSS.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 6. 1903.

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PATENTEDSEPT. 1, 19.03.

J. H. ROSS.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED ran. 6. 1903.

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UNTTED STATES Patented September 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,070, dated September 1, 1903.

Application filed February 6, 1903. Serial No. 142,187. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, JOHN HOWARD ROSS, a subject of the Kin g of Great Britain,and a resident of 3-5 \V ills street, Aston, nearthe city of Birmingham, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas generators in which water is allowed to fall upon or be made to rise up to calcium carbid from a suitable water-reservoir; and its objects are, broadly, to provide means whereby to maintain a uniform, or practically so, head of water above the point at which it is fed to the carbid, so as to grad ua-lly compensate for the decrease of volume of water through consumption, thereby insuring a more uniform pressure and supply of gas until the carbid is exhausted; also improved means of feeding the water to the carbid.

As will be hereinafter seen, my invention admits of considerable variation in detail of construction without departure from its general character.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a part sectional view of my invention as applied to a lamp in which the head of water from a lower reservoir is kept uniform by means of a downwardly-moving displaccr. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the outercasing-locking device. Fig. is a sectional view of my invention, showing how the uniformity of the head of water from an upper reservoir to the carbid-feed is maintained by means of an extensible feed-pipe. Fig. l is a detail view explaining certain means of controlling thc extensible feed-pipe. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing how the aforesaid uniform head of water may be maintained by multiple mechanism.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

It is well known in apparatus of this kind that the watcrfeed is more or less irregular, which correspondingly causes considerable variation in the light produced-that is to say, for instance, at the commencement the pressure of water at the point where it is fed to the carbid is at its maximum; but as the gas is generated and used the head of water is decreased, and in some cases also the pointof feed to the carbid is raised owing to the lower feed-holes becoming clogged, and thus the pressure of water on the feed is much reduced. Again, to remedy this sometimes more water is turned on; but unless this is done with considerable experience much inconvenience and even damage may ensue. Now in this my invention I have found that I may adapt means to utilize the expansion of the carbid to practically maintain a given head of water without requiring frequent attention.

On reference to Figs. 1 and 2, my invention is carried out as follows: 8 is a vessel which provides the water-chamber 9 and also serves as the stand or base of the lamp. 10 is a cylinder attached to the upper part 11 of the lamp, from whence the gas passes up the pipe 12 to the burner. The burner and its parts are not shown, as they form no part of my invention. 13 is the carbid-container, which rests upon and is supported by the flexible spring lat, which latter is inclosed in the cylinder 10 by the removable cap 10. Preferably I use a lining 13 in the carbid-container, so that by removing the lining the refuse is completely and easily removed. To the container is secured the water-inlet pipe 15, having perforations 16. XVithin the container is placed the resistance-box 17, which is pressed upward against the part 11 by the spring 15!, pushing the container and the carbid against its lower end. To the lower end of the box 17 is attached the pipe 18, which has inlet-holes 19. At the upper end of the box 17 provision is made for the generated gas, which passes up its outside to enter into the interior part 11. This may be done by openings 20.

The outer shell 21, to which the upper part of the lamp is attached, may be conveniently secured to the base portion 8, as follows: The dotted lines at 22 represent a lump formed upon the exterior of the cylinder 10, and the part 23 is a similar lump. In the flange 24a gap 25 is made. (See Fig. 2.) Hence when the casing 21 is being lowered ,over the base 8 the first lump 22 is passed through the gap 25, and then the casing turned around until the secondlump comes fair with the gap, when it also passes through and the casing turned further around, so that the carbid-container is now lowered into operative contact with the water. Now the difference in height from the upper side of the flange 24 and the under side of the lump 23 is such that when the easing 21 is raised its first stagetl1at is, with the lump 23 resting on the said flangethe container is clear of the water, and consequently no more gas is made except that due to the moisture already given. Its action is therefore as follows:- Water having been charged in the vessel 8 and the carbid placed and secured together with the box 17 and spring 14 within the cylinder 10, the burner-tap (not shown) is closed and the parts named inserted into the water vessel 8 and secured in the manner described. 13y reason of the water passing through holes 16 and thence again through holes 19 or beneath the end of pipe 18 gas is generated. At this time there is a given head of water from the surface at 26 to the inlet-hole at 19. As the water is used the carbid is increased in bulk, and this expansion forces the container 13 downward, inas much as the box 17 resists any upward movement of the carbid. Consequently as the container is pressed into the water the latter is being forced upward in the vessel 8, and thus practically maintaining a uniform pressure. As the container descends it leaves the pipe 18, and successive inlet-holes 16 serve the hole 19 or pass beneath the end of pipe 18.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the movement of the container 13", due to the expansion of the carbid, again keeps the head of water uniform. In this case 8 is the water vessel, to the lower part of which is attached the resistance-box 17, the whole being inclosed in cylinder 10, with the spring 14 pressing the container upward as before, the whole being secured therein by cover 10, making a herm etically-sealed joint by means of rubber ring 27. 28 is the water-supply regulator, which opens and closes the valve 29, to which latter is connected a flexible tube 30, whose discharge-point 30 is secured to a bridle 31, whose upper ends 32 rest upon the upper edge 33 of the container. Gaps 34 are made in the sides of the water vessel and the resistance-box to accommodate the side uprights of the bridle. Hence to commence with, the head of water is represented by the height from the surface at 35 to the discharge-point at 30". The water passes through perforated plate 36 onto the carbid. Now as the carbid expands it again pushes the container downward, when the bridle 31 and discharge-point 30 follow it, as indicated in dotted lines. Thus as the surface 35 is lowered the point 30 is lowered, and consequently a uniform head is practically maintained. Preferably I use a cooling-jacket 37, filled with water, which has access to the interior through hole at 38; but this forms no part of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 5, I have shown how this my invention of utilizing the movement of the carbid-container under expansion is made to maintain a more uniform pressure of-water when a more rapid movement of the displacer is required. In the arrangement as illustrated the central post 39 rests fixedly upon the base of the cylinder 10. At its upper end are toothed racks 40, into which gear the pinions 41, carried by posts 42 from the plate 43, which forms the cover to the resistancebox 17". These pinions 41 gear farther into rack-teeth formed upon frame 44, whichis rigidly connected to the tube 45, which has a base-plate 46, on which the container rests. Hence it follows that as the container is forced from the resistance-box by reason of the expansion of the carbid the result is that the said box 17 is also lowered a given distance and the container further lowered from the said box a similar distance, thus giving an aggregate double distance of travel of the displacer-container.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an acetylenegas generator, the combination of a water vessel, an expansible carbid-container, and an extendible feed device affording communication between said water vessel and said container and cooperating with these parts in such manner that the expansion of the carbidcontainer operates to control the supply of water to the carbid, as set forth.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a water vessel, an extendible feedpipe,a-n expansible carbid-contain er, a spring for supporting said container, means for con necting the expansible carbid-container to the end of said extendible feed-pipe, and means for controlling the supply of water to said extendible feed-pipe.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a water vessel, an extendible feedpipe, an expansible carbid-container, a spring for supporting said container, means for conneetin g the expansible carbid-container to the end of said extendible feed-pipe, and a valve for controlling the supply of water to said extendible feed-pipe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN IIOIVARD ROSS.

\Vitnesses:

C. HAYWARD POWELL, J. B. HAYWARD. 

